A GOVERNMENT dossier on Iraq today (Tuesday, September 24) claimed Saddam Hussein's regime was planning to use chemical and biological weapons.

But the 50-page document was swiftly condemned by rebel Merseyside MPs as a damp squib and a PR stunt.

And the Liberal Democrats said the dossier had "no clear evidence" of an imminent threat from Saddam.

The document was published hours before MPs returned for an emergency recall of Parliament to debate the Iraq crisis.

Labour sceptics were determined to force a vote tonight on a technical motion to show their opposition to any military action.

The document claims Iraq "has military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, including against its own Shia population".

But Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle said: "I do not see any evidence that Hussein is a clear and present danger; the dossier doesn't add to that.

"But that doesn't mean he is an acceptable character. It doesn't mean I do not want to see the UN security council getting tough on resolutions, we all agree on that but it is a question of why now and why Iraq?"

Bob Wareing, West Derby MP, added: "I believe that Bush and the people around him are out for world domination by America and Tony Blair is just acting as an echo for President Bush."